Oscillating disk meter



Sept. 3, 1946. A, R. wHlTTAKER OSCILLATING DISK METER 5 Shees-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1943 Sept. 3,1946.` A R wHlTTAKER 2,406,877

- OSGILLATING DISK METER Filed Nov. 27, 1945 3.5heets-Sheet 2 ATTORNY Sept-3, 1946. v A, WHlTTAKER V 2,406,877

OSCILLATING DISK METER Filed Nov. 27, 1945 l s sheets-sheet s .l'llg v A o 68 .v

INVENTQR lfm T/W Patented Sept. 3, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENToFrIcE OSCELLATING DISK METER Alexander R. Whittaker, New York, N. Y., as-

signor to Pittsburgh Equitable Meter Comp-any, Pittsburgh, P'a., a corporation of Pennsylvania Applicationv November 27, 1943, Serial No. 511,931

17 Claims. (Cl. 7S-257) The present invention -relates to fluid meters, and particularly to those of the oscillating disk type.

This is a continuation-impart of my co-pending application, Serial No. 420,407 led November 25, 1941. I

It is an object of the invention to provide a meter of this type having great accuracy over a Wide range of flows. i

It is a further object to reducel the pressure absorption in this type of meter.

A further object is to reduce the size of the measuring chamber while .increasing the rate of flow therethrough. l

Another object is the provision.A of a meter of this type in which internal pressure due to freezing of water inthe meter will not 'damage the gearing, meter chamber, or other parts of the meter.

A further object is to provide a meter of this type in which a single means releasably' holds the gear casing, measuring chamber and external housing in assembled position.

Another object is the provision of a combined gear case and measuring chamber.

Another object is the provision of a combined key and diaphragm to hold the measuring chamber in position.

Another object is to construct the measuring chamber so as to facilitate its manufacture.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide an oscillating disk meter having a slot in the housing adjacent to and parallel to the division plate, and a guide roller extends from the oscillating dislr` into the slot to guide the disk. The meter chamber is provided with double inlet openings which open into the interior of the meter chamber from the top and bottom thereof and thus reduce the pressure absorption of the meter. The inlet openings are located in the'top and bottom walls on one side of the division plate or diaphragm, and outlet depressions are formed in the top and bottom walls which merge in the meter chamber on the otherside of the division plate, an outlet passage being in communication therewith and sealed ofi from the annular inlet chamber. I prefer to provide shields for theA inlet openings to prevent currents inthe measuring compartments acting on. the disk. The measuring chamber is positioned in the eX- terior housing by internal shoulders or stops which provide an annular space between the measuring chamber and housing walls communieating with the inlet openings, and cri-operating sealing surfaces on the housing and measuring chamber surrounding the outlet separate the outlet from the inlet, thus compelling the fluid to be measured to pass through the measuring chamber. The bottom plate is held aga-instfthe measuring chamber by pressure releasable means which prevents damage to the measuring chamber in case of freezing of the fluid within the meter. In the type of meter having an enclosed reduction gear, the gear chamber has means interposed between the measuring chamber and the housing stop lugs, whereby the bottom c over also serves to releasably hold the gear housing in place. This allows expansion of the measuring chamber away from the gear housing in case of freezing, and as the measuring chamber is divided, the two halves will also separate in case of freezing, thus preventing damage to the gearing, gear housing, measuring chamber or measuring disk. Preferably, the measuring chamber is divided at its middlel to facilitate its manufacture. g I

The invention will be described in greater detail in connection with th-e accompanying drawings, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention by Way of illustration and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a similar view of the exterior casing, taken on line II-II of Figure 3,

Figure 3 is a bottom view of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an end view of Figure 2 looking toward the right with part of the casing in section, i

Figure 5 is a plan view of the gear case, Figure 6 isa plan view of the measuring cham.-

ber, Y

Figure 7 is a plan View of the bottom half of the measuring chamber,

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the measuring chamberand. assembled gear housing, the gears being removed,

Figure 9 is an end view of Figure 8 looking toward the right,

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the measuring disk,

Figure 11 is a plan View of the measuring disk,

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the outer housing, and

VFigure 13 is a side elevation of the division plate.

Referring to the drawings (Figures 1 to 4), there is shown the external meter casing or housing I having a threaded inlet connection 2 and a threaded outlet connection 3. The interior of the housing has three bosses 5, Stand I which arermachined to provide shoulders oristop surfaces 8,S and I in a common plane. At the bottomof the casing there is provided a ange I2, the inner edge I3 o f which is machined on acircle on its interior slightly larger than the circle formed by walls I4, I5 and I6 of bosses 5, 6 and 1.

The measuring chamber 35 (Figures 1, 6, 8 and 9) comprises a lower portion 36 and an. upper portion 31, said upper portion having projecting lugs 38, 39 and 40 which are machined on the top surfaces 4|, 42 and 43 to engage the shoulders 8, 9 and l0 of bosses 5, 6 and 1. The outer surfaces 44, 45 and 46 of the bosses or lugs 38, 39 and 40 constitute machined ribs which engage the surfaces I4, I5 and I6 of bosses 5, 6 and 1, and thus position the upper portion 31 of the meter chamber in the outer housing I.

The reduction gear housing or cover 50 (Figure 5) has projecting arms 5|, 52 and 53 which are machined at their extremities 54, 55 and 56 on a circle and thus provide flange means on cover 50. The upper surface of the top portion 31 (Figure 6) of the meter chamber has a generally annular rib 58 which is machined on its top surface 59 to provide a seat for the lower machined face 6| of the reduction gear housing 50. The lugs 38, 39 and 40 (Figures 6 and 9) are rabbetted to provide horizontal faces or shoulders 63, 64 and 65 preferably in the same plane as top surface 59, and arcuate Vertical surfaces 66, 61 and 68. The extremities of arms 5|, 52 and 53 of the gear case are received in the rabbetted portions of lugs 38. 39 and 40 respectively, and the surfaces 66, 61 and 68 engaging ends 54, 55 and 56 position the gear case in the housing. A dowel 69 in the lug 39 co-operating with a hole 1| in arm 52 insures proper positioning of the gear case. The upper surfaces 12, 13 and 14 of arms 5I, 52 and 53 are machined flush with the tops of lugs` 38, 39 and 40.

The lower portion 36 (Figures 1, 7 and 8) of the meter chamber is rabbetted internally at 16 and receives a rib 11 onthe upper portion to position the two sections in assembled relation. The bottom section has lugs 18, 19 and 8|) which are machined on a circle on their outer surfaces 8|, 82 and 83 to be received by the edge I3 of flange I2, and the ends84, 85 and 86 of the lugs lie ush with the bottom surface 81 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) of the ange I2 in assembled position. A gasket or washer 88 is located on the surface 81 of flange I2. The suitably lined bottom plate or cover of frangible material, such as cast iron, has a machined surface 89 adapted to engage the washer 88 and bolts 9| passing through the slotted lugs 92 and 93 of the bottom plate and housing respectively releasably clamp the gear case and two meter chamber sections in the housing I. With this construction, in the event the interior liquid in the meter freezes, one or more of the lugs 92 of the cast iron bottom cover will break off, thus relieving the force holding the gear case and meter chamber sections assembled, and the expansion of the ice will merely force these apart without breakage. By dividing the metering chamber substantially at its middle, the manufacture of the chamber is facilitated.

The lower half of the measuring chamber (Fig ure '7) of the meter has a cylindrical wall 95 and an inner concentric wall or rib 96 with a well 91 formed within the rib 96 and having at its center a stub or spindle 98. A roller 99 (Figures 1 and 8) preferably is journalled on the shaft 98. The upper half of the measuring chamber similarly has a cylindrical wall 95 (Figures 1 and 8) which in assembled position is a continuation of the wall of the lower chamber, and a concentric wall or rib with a well |02 within the rib. Within the cylindrical wall 95 is located a cylindrical piston |04 (Figure 10) having a middle Web which may be perforate and which has a central re-enforcing pin |96 passing through the piston stem |01 and |08 and riveted at its ends. Walls 96 and |0| extend toward eah I and reduce noise in the operation of the meter.

This guide roller and slot may be located on either side of the division plate.

The bottom and top walls of the meter chamber are slotted at I I2 and |I3 (Figures 9, 6 and 7) adjacent the outlet opening ||1 to accommodate the tabs I5 and |6 of the division plate, which lies against the machined wall I4 between the bottom wall 8 and top wall ||9 of the meter chamber. The slots ||2 and ||3 preferably are formed between one side wall ||4 of outlet opening ||1 and bosses ||2 and |I3, as shown in Figure 9, extending into the outlet opening. It will, therefore, be understood, from reference to Figure 9, that the division plate I I I forms one side wall of the outlet port or opening |I1, extending vertically between the bottom wall IIS of the chamber section 36 and the top wall ||9 of chamber section 31. At its inner end the plate carries a middle cylindrical portion |2| preferably integrally cast therewith, which is adapted to lie between the machined ribs 96 and |0I. This thickened portion I2| has a hole |22 therein, and a pin |23 extending through the hole |22 and into hole |24 in the rib 96 holds the division plate against displacement with its edge |26 in engagement with the vertical outer surfaces of the ribs 96 and |0I. Pin |23 may be extended into a similar hole in rib 9|.

If desired, a slot |28 may be provided in rib |21 of the outer casing I to receive the projecting end of the divisionplate to brace the same and to insure proper positioning of the meter chamber in the casing.

It will be apparent that by reason of the bosses 5, 6 and 1 extending from the Walls of the casing there is provided an annular space between the casing I and the measuring chamber 35, which space, however, is sealed off from the outlet passage |28 and outlet opening |I1 by the machined surfaces I6, |21, I3 and |3| on the interior of the casing surrounding the outlet passage |28 and engaging complementary sealing surfaces 46, |32, |33 and |34 respectively on the exterior of the measuring chamber 35. Thus, the measuring chamber is substantially entirely surrounded by fluid. The bottom wall II8 and top wall 9 of the measuring chamber have inlet openings |36 and |31 respectively of suitable shape, whereby fluid to be measured may enter the measuring chamber. The inlets |36 and |31 are shielded by shields |40 and |4| partially closing the inlets and which may be cast integral with the meter chamber, and serve to prevent lateral currents acting on the disk. Upraised shields |40 and |4| are closed on the incoming uid side and extend above and partially over the two inlet ports in such manner as to prevent incoming fluid ow currents from directly impacting piston |04. This results in an improvement in accuracy, particularly at high rates of flow. The bottom portion of the measuring chamber has an outlet recess or depression |38 and there is a similar outlet recess or depression |39 `in the .top wall which depressionsrmerg-e .at

ceives bushings |42 of hard rubber, graphite, or

other suitable `material .and has a shaft |153 extending therethrough with -a driven dog .Ill'in the centralwell |102. A-pinion 1|14f5is suitablyse- Acur-ed to the opposite lend of shaft |43, for exam-- ple, by :a pressed fit. `The upper shell .also has bosses |46, |41 and |48 in which are located har-d rubber bushings .and in which are Vjournalled one end of the shafts of suitable reduction gears, in- .dicated generally by the numeral .Il-til. 'The top Wall |5.| of the gear Yhousing '50 similar internal bosses |52 Yfor iournallin-g the opposite ends of the reduction gear shafts. In the central boss |55 is J'ourna/lled a spindle |56 having the :linal gear |51 on the inner end thereof, and a driving crank or dog .|58 on the outer .end which eng-ages theregister drive dog 16,0. Cover or housing 5i? is packed witha suitable :grease upon assembly.

rIhe lower portion |6| (Figur-e123 of the `register case is received on the shoulder |62 Aofthe casing -I and the flange |63 lis spun over von the sloping flange |64 of the register case to hold it asserribled.V A shoulder .Hifi receives the bottom plate of the register and the top portion -|66 provided with asuitable lid is secured to the bottom portion by screws passing through suitably apertured lugs inthe topand V.bottom portions.-

v'What I claim as my invention and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1, In an oscillating piston meter, a measuring chamber providing top and bottom Walls and a cylindrical wall with a substantially radial outlet Vopening therethrough, a metering element in said chamber outlet depressions in the top and bottom Walls of said measuring lchamber merging into said radial opening, an outer casing, `means locating said meter chamber Within the outer casing in spaced relation thereto to provide an annular inlet chamber, 'an inlet -connection in the outer casing communicating `with said annular chamber, inlet openings in the ltop and `bottom Walls of said measuring chamber, co-operating 'means on the outer casing andmeasuri-ng chamber sealing the radial opening from said annular inlet chamber, and an outlet connection in the -outer casing communicating directly with said radial opening.

2. In an oscillating piston meter, an outer housing lopen at the bottom and closed at the top, a register driving spindle journalled in l'said top, a measuring chamber, a gear case loos-ely assembled to said measuring chamber and positioned thereby, reduction gearing in said gear case 'journ'alled in the top Wall thereof andin'th'e top wall of the measuring chamber, means AeX- tending through the gear casing to drivefsaid register spindle, projecting stops ink said outer housing serving as abutments for the gear case and measuring chamber, 'and a bottom cover for said housing `releasa-bly holding said gear case and measuring chamber in position.

3. 'In an oscillating .piston meter, a measuring chamber 'having an inlet port andan outlet ,port lcomiiirising two half sections to provide a cylindrical measuring chamber having an intermediate cylindrical Wall in `each half section, a separate and removable division plate extending from the outer Wall of said chamber to the intermediate walls and having at its inner end an enlarged portion received between said intermediate walls,

a part on the outer fend of said 'plate Aseated in a slot in said outer wall and positioning said divi- Vsion plate to Vform .one Wall of the outlet port, a pin extending into said enlarged portion and into at least one section of said intermediate Walls, `and a cylindrical piston having a dividing membrane therein received between 4said intermediate Walls, said piston and membrane being cut .away to accommodate `said `division plate.

"4. In an oscillating piston meter, an outer housing, alcyllindrical measuring chamber in said housing 4and having an outlet opening therein and 'having an intermediate cylindrical wall, `a 4separati-1: division plate `extending from the intermediate wall through said opening and yconstituting one wall of the outlet opening therein, means `extending into said opening to provide a slot accommodating the division plate, a slot in the outer housing to accommodate the projecting end of said division plate, and means to secure said division plate 'to said intermediate wall.

5. In'an oscillating piston meter, a generally cylindrical measuring chamber having top fand bottom Walls, a -cylindrical outer Wall lhaving a substantially radial opening therethrough, .and an intermediate cylindrical wall, a metering lelement in said chamber, a division plate extending from the intermediate wall through Ysaid radial opening `to form one wall thereof, inlet openings in the top and bottom walls of the measuring chamber on one side of said division plate, :depressions in the V.top and bottom Walls on the opposite side of said divisi-on plate merging into the radial opening inthe measuring chamber, .an outer casing, means locating said meter chamber Within the outer casing in spaced `relation thereto to provide an annular inlet chamber communicating with the inlet openings, an inlet connection in the outer casing communicating with said annular chamber, cooperating sealing surfaces on the outer casing and measuring chamber sealing the radial opening from .said annular inlet chamber, and outlet connection in the outer casing communicating with said radial opening.

16. In an oscillating piston meter, a measuring chamber providing top and bottom Walls and ra cylindrical Wall with a substantially radial Aopening therethrough surrounded by smooth-integral sealing surfaces on said cylindrical wall, a metering element in lsaid chamber, outlet depressions in the top and 'bottom vva'lls of said measuring chamber `merging into said radial opening, inlet openings in the top and bottom Walls -of said measuring chamber, an outer `casing having an outlet connection surrounded by smooth integral sealing surfaces, cooperating projecting means on the outer casing and measuring chamber loeating said measuring chamber within Athe outer casing in spaced relation thereto and in sealing engagement adjacent the outlet opening, and providing an annular inlet chamber, and an inlet Aconnection in the outer casing Vcommunicating with said annular chamber.

7.,'In an oscillating piston meter, an out-er yhousing open at 'the bottom and closed at the top, a 'measuring chamber having lugs thereon, a. gear case adapted to be loosely assembled to said measuring chamber and having arms positioned by said lugs, reduction gearing in said case journalled in the top Wall of said measuring chamber and of said gear case, projecting stops in said outer housing serving as abutments for the gear case and measuring chamber lugs, means centering said gear case and measuring chamber in spaced relation to the housing, and a bottom cover for said housing releasably retaining said gear case and measuring chamber in operative position.

8. In an oscillating piston meter, a casing, a measuring chamber in said casing providing top and bottom walls and a cylindrical wall with a substantially radial outlet opening therethrough, intermediate cylindrical walls extending from the top and bottom walls, said -top and bottom walls being formed with uid inlet openings, outlet depressions in the top and bottom walls of said measuring chamber merging into said radial opening, a cylindrical piston having a dividing membrane received between said intermediate walls, and shield means disposed in the path of vincoming uid ow and extending partly over said inlet openings for preventing direct impact on said piston of fluid entering said casing.

9. In an oscillating piston meter, an outer housing open at the bottom and closed at the top, a register driving spindle journalled in said top, a measuring chamber comprising two separable half sections to provide a cylindrical measuring chamber having an intermediate cylindrical wall in each half section, a gear case loosely assembled to said measuring chamber and positioned thereby, reduction gearing in said gear case journalled in the top wall thereof and in the topV wall of the measuring chamber, means extending through the gear case to releasably engage and drive said register spindle, projecting stops in said outer housing serving as abutments for the gear case and measuring chamber, a bottom cover for said housing engaging said measuring chamber, and irangible means securing said cover to said housing.

10. In an oscillating piston meter, an outer housing open at the bottom and closed at the top, a register driving spindle journalled in said top, a measuring chamber comprising two separable half sections to provide a cylindrical measuring chamber having an intermediate cylindrical wall in each half section, said housing and chamber providing cooperative seating surfaces in sliding contact to center said measuring chamber, a separate division plate releasably engaging said half sections and extending from the outer wall to the intermediate walls and having an enlarged portion received between said intermediate walls, a gear case loosely assembled to said measuring chamber and positioned thereby, reduction gearing in said gear case journalled in the top wall thereof and in the top wall of the measuring chamber, means extending through the gear case to releasably engage and drive said register spindle, projecting stops in said outer housing serving as abutments for the gear case and measuring chamber, a bottom cover for said housing engaging said measuring chamber, and frangible means securing said cover to said housing.

11. In an oscillating piston meter, a measuring chamber providing top and bottom walls and a cylindrical wall with a substantially radial opening therethrough, intermediate cylindrical walls extending from the top and bottom walls, outlet depressions in the top and bottom walls of said measuring chamber merging into said radial opening, said chamber having inlet openings in f the top and bottom walls thereof, protectiveA shield means extending over said inlet openings in the path of incoming uid flow, and a cylindrical piston received between said intermediate walls, said shield means preventing lateral currents in the incoming fluid from impacting directly on said piston.

12. In an oscillating piston meter, an outer housing open at the bottom and providing internal shoulders, a measuring chamber in abutting relation to said shoulders, a gear case adapted to be loosely assembled to said measuring chamber, flange means on said case interposed between the measuring chamber and said shoulders, reduction gearing in said case journalled in said measuring chamber and gear case, means for centering said gear case and measuring chamber in said housing, and a bottom cover for said housing releasably retaining said gear case and measuring chamber in operative position.

13. In an oscillating piston meter, a meter casing having fluid inlet and outlet connections, means for mounting a register on one end of said casing, the other end of the casing being formed with an aperture, means providing internal seat means within said casing facing said aperture, a measuring chamber housing within said casing having fluid connection with said inlet and outlet connections, means for mounting register drive mechanism upon the end wall of said housing opposite said aperture and outside said chamber, a cover for said drive mechanism seated on said housing, seating means on said housing and cover adapted to twith said internal seat means on the meter casing, and a removable cover for said aperture formed to hold said housing and register drive mechanism cover against said internal seat means.

14. In the meter dened in claim 13, cooperating peripheral seating means within said meter casing and on said housing for positioning said register drive mechanism in proper alignment to drive said register.

15. In an oscillating piston meter, a housing defining a measuring chamber, external bearing seats on the upper wall of said housing, a register drive gear train having substantially vertical shafts mounted on said bearing seats and including a drive spindle projecting within said chamber, a cover for said gear train provided with bearings for said shafts, and cooperating seating and positioning means on said cover and the upper Wall of said chamber for properly locating said cover, said gear train being held in operative assembly by said proper positioning of said cover.

16. In an oscillating piston meter, a meter casing having fluid inlet and outlet connections, a housing within said casing defining a measuring chamber, said casing having an inlet fluid receiving space extending partly about said measuring chamber, a relatively light piston oscillatable within said chamber, an inlet opening through an end wall of said housing providing for ingress of fluid directly from said space into said chamber to actuate said piston, and shield means on said wall partially extending over said inlet opening for preventing direct impact of inlet fluid current now on said piston.

17. The meter dened in claim 16, wherein said shield means comprises an integral extension of said housing at said inlet opening presenting a closed side facing said inlet uid flow.

ALEXANDER R. WHITTAKER. 

